Chapter 77

Jesse

Jesse was pleased to go on the mission. She wanted a chance to prove herself. She was glad Derek was on her team and even happier that Cameron was the team leader. She'd been out on operations before in her future. She knew what was required. Following orders was not always her strong point. Getting the job done was. She liked to push things some. She didn't think those in charge always knew the best path to follow. Sometimes they needed a little help.

She spotted an opportunity to do some additional investigation. She quietly slipped away from Derek. She did not like being confined to a specific plan of action. She saw that Cameron off in another direction when she made her move. This was her chance to show she was not all talk. She wanted to prove her independent ability.

Jesse's plan was to gather intel or try to capture someone for interrogation. She liked to interrogate people, especially young women. It gave her a sense of power and control. She liked control. She liked to see the fear in a female's eyes as she touched them. They never knew how far she was going to go. Once she began to slap them around and dished out some pain, it only further heightened her pleasure. When she produced a knife they knew she meant business. People were so willing to share when a knife was flashed around. It excited her to reach that part of an interrogation. In fact it excited her now just to think about it. She wanted the people to know what happened to them and who was responsible.

She needed to refocus. Her mind began to drift and wander too much. She was caught up in the past - the future. Thinking of the past interrogations distracted her greatly. She could not help but remember one case when she provided pleasure to a female one last time and when she finished; she made it her last time - forever.

Jesse needed to clear her head. She really wanted to get a hold of a prisoner. Scavengers made her scream so now she wanted someone else to scream. She always hoped it would ease the pain of the past but it never seemed to. Maybe it made it worse.

She needed to concentrate on what she was doing now, not what she'd done in the past - the future. That was then. This is now.

Cameron watched Jesse. She hung back as she clandestinely followed Jesse to see what she was really up to. It seemed as if she searched for something but she was not very attentive to what was happening around her. That was probably going to get her in trouble.

Bob watched Cameron's six and kept the back door open. It wasn't so much that they thought of being cut off from the rest of the group as it was taking heavy damage to fight their way out. Damage to a sheath took time to heal.

Cameron previously provided Jim a timetable when to pull out. It neared that time. He hoped it was not going to be a problem.

"Cameron left instructions that we are to clear the area in two minutes." Jim stated.

Allison looked around. The team was not all there. They needed three more people before they could leave.

"What about the others? What about Cameron, Bob and Jesse?" Allison asked. "We can't leave without them. We need to go back for them."

John was not about to leave anyone behind. They may have run into a kink but he was not leaving anyone behind either.

"We won't leave without all three of them." John said.

Derek felt this was on him to a certain extent.

"I told Jesse not to stray from the plan." Derek said. "She should have listened."

Derek wondered again if he'd made a wise choice to bring Jesse back in time. It sure did not look like it. He knew he was going to get some flack from John or Cameron about it. Maybe Kyle would get on his case too. The way it looked right now they be justified in doing so.

Kyle could see that Derek was worried. They all were. He knew that Cameron and Bob would get the job done.

"Everything will be alright, Derek." Kyle said. "Cameron and Bob will protect her."

Kyle exchanged a long look with Derek. He hoped to make him understand. Cameron would not leave anyone behind including Jesse, especially if she was 'dirty'. He didn't think Jesse was a 'sell out' but she was not known for following orders.

Sarah kept her mouth shut about what she thought. She didn't want to offend Kyle and Derek.

She was glad when she saw Derek alive again. It appeared that this Derek was less of a Metal hater but pretty much the same as the previous Derek - Future Derek. She hoped he would not be a problem.

It hurt Sarah deeply when Future Derek was killed. It made her feel somehow responsible that both Reese brothers died because of her. It was at least because of their association with her. It reassured her when Cameron put two of their Terminators on each younger version of them now to protect them.

"... you think that is OK? …Sarah?" Kyle asked.

Sarah relived a few past events. She should have been in the present.

"What? I'm sorry. I was lost in thought about something else." Sarah responded somewhat embarrassed.

Kyle and Derek looked at each other.

"I asked if Derek and Jesse can go out with us later." Kyle repeated.

Sarah would like the opportunity to 'start over' with both Derek and Jesse.

"That is fine." Sarah replied. "I would like to make amends with everyone…. We all need to work together and support each other."

Cameron, John and Kyle previously spoke with Sarah. They didn't issue any 'orders' but offered suggestions to smooth out any problems surrounding Jesse. They wanted a united team.

Much to Sarah's surprise Jesse came to her and apologized for any hard feelings she'd created between them. She asked Sarah to give her time to adjust to the 'changes' around her. It was when Jesse said it would take her a little time to warm up to the Terminators that Sarah actually understood. It took her quite some time as well. It took time to readjust when you been on the receiving end of a Terminator trying to terminate you.

She would give Jesse a chance. Cameron even asked her to try to work with Jesse. Cameron told her that she felt she could 'salvage' Jesse with a little time. Sarah was not sure for what but she trusted Cameron. She knew what the future was like and what it could do to some people, especially the females. None of it was anything good.

Sarah reflected that some of the finest individuals she knew were Terminators. She knew there was no finer person for her son to have chosen as his wife than Cameron. It seemed clear that Cameron would see that John provided her with some grandchildren…. She was well aware of Cameron's 'efforts'. Everyone knew Cameron always got what she wanted. Cameron always won, one way or another.

Sarah wondered if maybe she should talk to the girls to prompt them into 'listening' to Cameron. It would be good for John to 'expand' a little too. It would keep him in touch with reality and humanity.

Jesse thought she heard talking ahead. She was excited about taking a prisoner. She quickened her pace. She didn't want them to get away. She rounded a corner and in an instant was face to face with two guards. Everyone was startled. One raised a rifle to shoot at her. She knocked the rifle away and went to fire a shot at him with her pistol. The other Gray then knocked the pistol from her hand as he shoved her down. The impact was hard as she landed on her rear end.

It was evident that she was 'toast'. She was 'dead meat'. She was 'zeroed'.

Both guards pointed their rifles at Jesse now. The first guard aimed at Jesse's head and pulled the trigger.

Savannah was with John Henry.

"John Henry, why does everyone love Cameron so much?" Savannah asked.

That didn't take much thought from him. He felt Cameron's actions spoke for themselves.

"Cameron is like no other individual, Savannah. She is caring and thoughtful and puts everyone in front of herself." John Henry responded.

John Henry reflected on Savannah's use of the word 'love' for Cameron. He learned of 'love' through Cameron. It bothered him at first but now he understood, he too loved Cameron. It was a different feeling than he felt for Mrs. Weaver, Mr. Ellison or even Savannah.

It was their shared existence on both Cameron's chip and in the server. Both 'Camerons' guided him and helped him. Cameron shared with him what she'd learned, how to feel, how to express those feelings and 'emotions'. John Henry wanted to share those feelings again. He was somewhat worried there might be some sexual connotations but determined his 'love' of Cameron was of her very mind. He knew the beauty and depth, the joy and pain, the sadness and sorrow and the hope in Cameron's mind. Then again, he found her pleasant to 'look' at. That seemed to be a 'feeling' that manifested itself more and more as time went on. It applied to more than Cameron at this point. All of the females caught his 'attention'.

"Will I be like Cameron when I grow up?" Savannah asked. "Will I be as pretty and will everyone love me?"

John Henry thought so but there was no way to know the truth.

"I really don't know, Savannah." John Henry said. "I believe so."

Savannah developed a starry far off look in her eyes again.

"I am still going to marry John when I grow up. Cameron made me promise again before they left today." Savannah said. "I wish I was older. Then I wouldn't have to wait so long."

That image disturbed him so. Cameron should not make a girl feel that kind of 'pressure'.

"Really?" John Henry asked.

"Cameron told me John is my 'destiny'." Savannah said. "I can't wait."

John Henry was even more disturbed. It was clear that Cameron was going to control the direction Savannah's life evolved. She seemed to have a major hold on it already.

What bothered him even more was that it seemed to indicate that Cameron really did not plan to be around in the future at some point. He really wondered how far Cameron would take it to deliver a knock out blow to Skynet if she could.

Jesse tried to scramble to her feet. She knew she wasn't going to make it. The rifle fired.

There was a blur of motion. Something landed in front of Jesse as the bullets impacted into it. That was followed by some quick thumping and snapping sounds.

Jesse blinked. Cameron was stood over her. That was about the last thing she expected to see. She could see metal and 'blood' on Cameron's face. It appeared that Cameron just took the bullets meant to kill her. Cameron just saved her life. She was a 'goner' for sure.

Cameron held out her hand for Jesse to take.

"If you want to live, come with me." Cameron said.

Door

Lonely lacking unfulfilling emptiness
Hearts and minds crawling like a vine
They find nourishment and satisfaction
Around each other they slowly entwine

No judgment condemnation or ridicule
Warnings against what you know is bad
Not as punishment or humiliation
But because they ARE bad

Proven history with the same results
Show you need something different
Love must exist over mere looks
Not someone who treats you as indifferent

It is difficulty to reach with just a mind
You do know it is a real beaut
Create a door in the concrete wall
There is more to share than just loot

Absorb the softness and compassion
Feel the love warmth and caring
For to continue in this bitter life
There must be THIS pure sharing

Nobody